Film Producer

by Staff Reporter
by Staff Reporter
If you’re a creative thinker, a responsible individual and have great communication skills then a career as a Film Producer could be for you.

Career Overview

A Film Producer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of creating and producing a film, from conception through to completion. 

Film Producers work alongside directors and other production crew members to ensure that the production of a film is successfully carried through. Film Producers are also responsible for arranging funding for films and ensuring that the film stays within budget.

Required School Subjects

You will need to have taken the following subjects at high school:

  • English (Home Language or First Additional Language)

Recommended subjects:

  • Drama

Institution and APS

The following institutions are highly recommended for students wanting to become a Film Producer:

  • SAE Institute – No specific APS
  • AFDA – No specific APS
  • City Varsity – No specific APS
  • University of Johanesburg (UJ) – APS of 27
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – APS of 33
  • University of Cape Town (UCT) – Faculty Point Score (FPS) of 450 for guaranteed entry
  • University of Witwatersrand (Wits) – APS of 34+
  • Open Window Institute – APS of 22

Required Qualification/s

There are several Diplomas and Degrees available to introduce you to the field of Film Production. However, in order to be a successful Film Producer, practical experience is key. Due to this, many Film Producers start out as interns or assistants to get an idea of what the film industry is about and then move on to study a film-related degree before they get a full-time job.  

You will be able to obtain a formal qualification from one of the abovementioned institutions – here are the specific entry requirements for the programmes on offer:

  • SAE Institute
    • Bachelor of Arts in Film Production
      • A Grade 12 pass with an endorsement for degree studies
      • English 50%
      • Mathematical Literacy 50%
  • University of Witwatersrand
    • Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television
      • English Home Language OR First Additional Language 60%
      • Minimum APS score of 34
      • Applicants are required to submit a portfolio
  • AFDA
    • Higher Certificate in Film, TV and Entertainment Production
      • National Senior Certificate with entry into a Diploma or Higher Certificate
      • If you do not have the above, you do have the option of completing and passing the AFDA Entrance Exam.
  • City Varsity
    • Diploma in Film and Television Production Techniques
      • National Senior Certificate/Grade 12/NQF 4 with an endorsement for a diploma.
    • Bachelor of Arts: Film and Television
      • National Senior Certificate/Grade 12/NQF 4 with an endorsement for degree studies.
  • Open Window
    • Bachelor of Film Arts
      • English 50%
      • Minimum APS score of 22
  • University of Johannesburg
    • Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television
      • English 60%
      • Minimum APS of 27
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology
    • Diploma in Film Production
      • English 60%
      • Minimum APS of 33
  • University of Cape Town
    • Bachelor of Arts in Film & Television Studies
      • National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for degree studies
      • English Home Language 50% OR English First Additional Language 60%
      • NBT AL: Proficient (for guaranteed admission)

Required Skills

You will need to have the following skills to succeed as a Film Producer:

  • An interest and passion for media production and films
  • Creative-thinking skills
  • Good communication and problem-solving skills
  • Leadership skills and the ability to work well in a team
  • Business and management skills
  • Budgeting skills

Where you can work

As a Film Producer, you will be able to specialise in one of the following environments:

  • Production manager
  • Production assistant
  • Executive producer
  • Production coordinator
  • Line producing

Working Hours

Working hours largely depend on what job you are on. Each film will have its own working schedule which means that some working days can be between 10-12 hours.

Expected Salary

According to PayScale, the average pay for a Film Producer ranges between R101k – R544k per year, depending on experience.

What to expect

Here are a few things you can expect from a career as a Film Producer:

  • Unpredictable and long working hours.
  • A lot of traveling due to the change in sets and locations.
  • Being responsible for pulling together the talent and the crew.
  • Arranging the funding for films and ensuring the film is delivered on time and on budget.
  • Acting as a sounding board for the director.
  • Ensuring that the crew complies with relevant regulations during filming.

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